My Thoughts, Ideas and Ramblings

Many of you know my kids have not had a good year with their health.  I also have surgery next week, so I’m not helping our healthcare woes either.  Now, let me start by stating that I have fairly decent health insurance.  It covers most of what we need covered, $1000 deductible, $3,000 out of pocket family deductible.  Now, with everybody’s issues this year, we may actually make the family deductible.  My kids (before insurance) alone have wracked up over $20,000 in medical bills this year.  We definitely are getting our money’s worth (finally!).

So why am I worried?  Bill’s insurance is dependent on his job.  This is the worst construction (which is the field he works in) has ever been (according to an article he sent me a while pack) here in Chicago.  We keep our fingers crossed at all times here.  My biggest concern would be Madison.  Seeeeee, with her history, she’s pretty much uninsurable if we would have to pick up our own health insurance.  Her ketosis acidosis would be considered a preexisting condition that most insurances will most likely not cover or if I could actually find one, the deductible would be so high it may be pointless or we won’t be able to afford it. (And yes, I’ve actually looked into this).  Depending on what we find on my surgery next Wednesday, I may or may not fall into the same case too.

Though, is government run medicine the answer?  I don’t know.  My fear is that if the government starts offering up insurance that small companies, like the one my husband works at, will have no incentive to offer insurance.  I’ve heard about the long lines and substandard care in countries with socialized medicine.  I don’t want that either.  I can’t offer up anything better than what we have which is clearly broken.

What are your thoughts?  What is the right answer?